Wall radio



Dec. 21, 1948. w, w, BROCKWAQ 2,457,029

i v WALL RADIO Filed Sept. 1;, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 io-- .55 7 Q I N VEN TOR.

W! L HELM W. BROCKWAV Q- 1943- w. w. BROCKWAY WALL RADIO 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1946 INVENTOR. WIL HEL/Y Mfi/Pocnmv E I ATTMNE) Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALL RADIO Wilhelm W. Brockway, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 13, 1946, Serial No. 696,726

12 Claims. (Cl. 250-16) This invention relates to a radio of a type that may be installed in the wall of a building, The broad concept of installing a radio in a building wall is not new, but the present invention utilizes this concept to obtain a number of new and beneflciali advantages that have not hitherto been realized.

In many homes it is customary to have a number of radios disposed in different rooms. For example, there may be one for a living room, and another for akitchen or breakfast room. Or there may be a radio for the living room and one for the den. In many cases, rooms in which it may be desirable to install several radios,-are adjacent to each other and separated bya partition wall. The general object of my invention is to provide a radio which is adapted to-serve both of two adjacent rooms. To this end, the'invention contemplates the provision of arad-iobuilt' into a partition wall and having loud speaker mechanism arranged to direct s'ound' into both of the rooms. i

Another object is to provide a radio adapted to be mounted in a partition wall and having station identifying dial mechanism that is visible from both sides of such wall.

Another object is to provide a wall radio unit in combination with a wall receptacle into which the radio, unit can be inserted and from which the radiounit. can be removed for repairs, servicing, etc. In this connection, the invention contemplates an arrangement in which the receptacle forms a permanent installation in, and a part of, the partition wall as Well as a casing for the radio unit. The invention also aims to provide anpzarrangementin which the radio unit can be quickly and readily removed for servicing, etc.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing specification and appended drawings, in

which: v

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a portion of a wall with my improved radio mechanisminstalle'd a modified form 05, 3 radio unit installed there- 55 Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 'I'! of Fig. 5.

As an example of one form. in which my invention may be embodied, I have shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive a radio receiving system including a receiver unit R (shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and a loud speaker unit (shown in Fig. 4), both installed in a partition wall. Such partition wall.

may include vertical studding, indicated at I 0, cross studs II and I2 forming bases for the mounting thereon of my improved receiver and loud speaker units, respectively, lath or plaster board I3, and coatings of plaster I4 adhering to the lath I3 on both sides of the wall.

In the lath I3 and plaster I4 there is provided a pair of horizontally registering openings that are defined by the edges of cut away areas of the lath l3 and by a pair of rectangular metal plaster molding frames I5 inset in the plaster. The frames I5 may be constructed from any suitable plaster molding strip, but are preferably of an L-shaped cross section having flanges I6 for at--' tachment to the lath or plasterboard I3. The. frames I-5 are secured to the frame structure of the wall before the plaster is applied, and during the plastering process the plaster is molded into the frames I5 in a conventional manner charac-' teristic of the practice of plastering up to a comer" or edge binding molding strip.

it will fit within the frames I5 with just sufficient The casing I8, I9 may be secured in place by driving nails 20 through suitably positioned openings in the bottom wall I3 and into the base stud II; On its rear side, the casing I8, I9 has a mar-l ginal flange 2 I, while its opposite side is fully open" to permit the radio receiver chassis to be insertedtherethrough.

The receiver chassis includes a base of inverted box form having a horizontal wall 22 and a mar ginal flange 23, the lower edges of which rest variable condenser unit 26. The movable plates of the condenser unit 26 are mounted upon a shaft 21 that is journaled in the yoke 25. Secured to clearance to permit it to be easily inserted there-- the shaft 21 above the yoke 25 is an inverted, dished tuning dial 28 having a frustoconical rim 29 terminating in a peripheral edge 30.

A shaft 3| is mounted in a bearing 32 in the base 22, 23, coaxially with the shaft 21, and to its upper end, above the base, is connected the volume control potentiometer or rheostat 33. To the lower end of the shaft 3!, below the horizontal wall 22 oi the base, is attached a volume control disc 34. Mounted upon the base 22, 23 and pro- J'ecting (in some cases) upwardly into the space defined within the flange 29 of the tuning dial 28, are a plurality of electronic components and amplifier tubes 35, transformers 35a, and 0011'- densers 35b of the radio mechanism. The front and rear of the casing l8, I9 are closed by panels 36 and 37, respectively, the latter being secured to the flange 2| of the casing, and the former being secured (as by means of screws 39) 'to the flange 23 of the base 22, 23.

Theflange 23 is cut away at both the front and the rear of the chassis to :provide notches 40 through Mhiohopposite peripheral portions of the disc 34 project. The panels 36 and 31 are correspondingly provided with slots 41 and 42 through wnsidi these peripheral portions of the disc 34 project inorder that a person may engage the disc to rotate it. The panels 36 and 31 are also provided with windows '43 and 44 through which dl mosite peripheral portions of the flange 29 and rim n or the tuning dial 28 project. The windows fl andflgive a view of portions of the station indicaltirrgdial face t which is imprinted upon the surface of the flange 29.

Suitablymounted on the chassis base 22, 23 and projecting upwardly into the space defined within tbeflange 29 of the tuning dial, are a pair otsmall electric light bulbs 46. The dial 28, or at least the rim "2! thereof, is of a translucent will (a. 2., apiastic materiall through which tilelight rays from the lamps 46 will'illuminate the dial face 45.

lnlFil. Iris shown the loud speaker unit ofmy mnrmdTamo-system, which is mountedin a casing 41 installed in the wall in amannersirni law to. the casing l8, l3. Aloud speaker 48 is suitahirmounted in the casing 41 withone side faciug'twardone side of the wall and theother side facin toward the other side of the wall. Grilles 49am detraci'lablyusecured to the casino at the respective sides of the wall, and the sound produced by the loud speaker 48 may pass Weigh the grilles into both of the adjoining T001335.

Figs. land 4 are partially schematic, in that they illustratayin-outline form, the electrical conmotions between the radio unit R, the speaker 48, md .a phonograph unit 50 which is shown schematically. The connections from the phonoraph "to the radio amplifier and speaker 48 are such as to utilize the speaker 48 for producing soundfrom electrical current pulses originating iua conventional electronic pickup mechanism in phonograph unit. The speaker 48 also serves to produce sound from electrical current pulses originating in the radio unit R. Theconnections between these circuits are made in the chassis otthe radio unit R, through a series of contacts 58 mounted in a suitable insulating panel 51 attached to the base, 23 and a series of spring arm contacts 58 that are mounted on an insulatfll'gpmel 53 secured to an end wall I9 of the rndlounit casing. The respectivecontact arms "are attachodto a. series of terminals 60, 8|, 6:,- Ind 64, respectively, to which are connected the conductors 5|, 52, 54, and 55, respectively, and a lead 65 to an antenna 66. The ground connection is made through the conduit 61. Connected to an end wall 19 of the radio unit is one end of a length of electrical conduit 51 forming part of the wiring system of the building. Through the conduit 61, the power leads 68 are brought into the radio unit casing and are connected to terminals 69 on an insulating block Ill secured to the casing. Also, connected to the terminal 69 are a pair of spring contact arms 1| which engage a pair of the contacts 56.

It will now be apparent that the radio unit casing l8, l9 constitutes a permanent installa tion in a building wall while the radio chassis may be immediately removed by simply sliding it outof the open side of the casing. This may be accomplished by hooking a suitable tool or tools through an opening or openings 12 in the panel 36 and pulling away from the wall. The panel 33, being secured to the base 22, 23, forms a. part ofthe radio chassis'unit, although functioning (when the unit is in place) as part of the dais ing '(asdoes the panel 37 also).

The tuning dial 30 and volume control disc 34 are-accessible from either side of the partition wall. Thus, a person in either of the adjoining rooms served by the radio may operate the controls of the radio. The dial face 45 is repeated in duplicate on diametrically opposite sides 0! the dial. The tuning dial and volume control disc' are manipulated by pressing a thumb or finger against a peripheryof those members and pushing circumierentially.

ItlFiISwS, 6 and 7, I have shown a modified form of the invention in which a radio unit casinglfla, 19a is mounted in a Wall opening in a manner-similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, but in which the tuning unit 26a is mounted on an axis extending longitudinally of the casing andrthe volumecontrol unit 33a. is mounted be neath the base 22a. To the shaft 21a of the tuningunit 26ais secured a drum 8!. Cables 82 andllarewrapped around the drum 8| and are passed around sets of pulleys 84 and 85, respectively, at the four corners of the casing lfla, lfla. A pair of indicator pointers 8i, slidable in slots?! in the panel'36a and 31a, respectively, are secured tothe cable82 for movement in accordance with rotation of the drum BI and cooperate with thedialface 45a to indicate the setting of the tuning unit 26a. Adjustment of the tuning unit 26a is effected by rotating either of two knobs 28a. eachmounted upon a shaft 88 journaled in a bracket 89 on the base 22a and carrying a pulley; 90 about which the cable 83 is wrapped. Such rotation of the knob 28a transmits rotation to the drum fll through-the cable 83, and

the drum 8| in turn transmits movement to the cable 82 and thus to the pointers 86.

The volume control unit 33a is operated by either of two knobs 34a, one of which is directly connected to a shaft 9| on which the rotatable part of the unit 33 is secured, and the other of whichisgea'redto the shaft 9| through gearing 92, 33.

The knobs 28a and 34a are arranged in pairs, oneonone side of the partition wall, and the other on the other side of the partition wall, so as to give access to the radiocontrols from both of the adjoining rooms served by the radio.

The advantages of the invention will how be apparent. A'single radio is' adapted to serve either of two adjoining rooms, and provide for loud speaker delivery into both of the rooms and access and control from either room. When it is desired to remove the radio unit for servicing or repair, it is simply slid out of the wall casing like a drawer, the contacts 55 sliding beneath the contact arms 58. By just as simple a movement, in reverse, the radio unit may be slid back into the Wall casing, the contacts 56 coming to rest in contact with their respective spring arms 58, and thus connecting the radio to the power and loud speaker circuits.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a radio receiver apparatus, in combination with a partition wall separating two rooms of a building, said wall having a through opening, means framing said opening at each side of said wall, and a radio receiver mounted in said opening and having controls that are accessible from both of said rooms.

2. In a radio receiving apparatus, in combination with a partition wall separatin two rooms of a building, a casing mounted in said wall and communicating with both of said rooms, and a radio chassis in said casing having controls that are exposed in both rooms.

3. In a radio receiver apparatus, in combination with a casing forming a permanent installation in a building wall and having panels communicating with rooms on both sides of said wall, a radio chassis insertible into said casing and having controls that are exposed to both of said rooms when it is in place in the casing.

4. In a radio receiving apparatus, in combination with a partition wall separating two rooms of a building, a casing built into said wall and communicating with both of said rooms, said casing having slots therein, and a radio receiver unit, mounted in said casing and having a control element of circular shape having a periphery of which diametrically opposed portions extend through said slots so as to be operable from both of said rooms.

5. In a radio receiving apparatus, in combination with a partition wall separatin two rooms of a building, a casing built into said wall, said casing having on one side a panel communicating with one of said rooms and being open on its other side, a radio chassis mounted in said casing and having secured thereto a panel closing the open side of said casing and communicating with the other room, said panels having openings therein, and said radio chassis including control means, portions of which project through said openings so as to be operable from the respective rooms.

6. In a radio receiving apparatus, in combination with a partition wall separating two rooms of a building, a casing mounted in said wall and communicating with both rooms, a radio chassis mounted in said casing and having control means, portions of which are exposed in both rooms, said casing having an end wall, a plurality of terminals carried by said end wall and having contacts projecting therefrom into the casing, and a plurality of contacts on said chassis, adapted to engage said wall mounted contacts when the chassis is in place in the casing.

7. In a radio receiving apparatus, in combination with a partition wall separating two rooms of a building, a pair of plaster molding frames set into said wall and defining a pair of registering openings in the respective sides of the wall, a. casing mounted in said frames and communicating with the respective rooms, and a radio chassis mounted in said casing and having control means, portions of which communicate with the respective rooms in order that the radio may be controlled from either room.

8. In a radio receiving apparatus, for use in combination with a partition wall separating two rooms and having a casing built thereinto and communicating with both rooms, a radio chassis including a base portion having a plurality of contacts for engagement with contacts carried by said casing, a plurality of operating elements extending upwardly from said base, and an inverted dished dial member for controlling one of said operating elements, positioned on a vertical axis disposed substantially centrally of said casing and having a downwardl extending flange embracing the upper portions of at least some of said operating elements, peripheral regions of said control member being projected through the easing into the respective rooms for engagement by an operator in either room.

9. In a radio receiving apparatus, in combination with a partition wall separating two rooms of a building and having two cavities therein, each communicating with both rooms, a radio receiver unit mounted in one of said cavities and having a control element accessible to each of said rooms, and a loud speaker mounted in the other of said cavities and communicating with both rooms.

10. In a radio receiving apparatus for use in connection with a partition wall separating two rooms of a building and having therein a cavity communicating with both rooms, a radio receiver comprising a support, an operating unit mounted on said support and having a rotatable part disposed on a horizontal axis and having a drum at one end thereof, a pair of control knobs arranged for communication with the respective rooms and each carrying a pulley, a cable connected to said pulley and to said drum and guide pulleys about which said cable is guided.

11. A radio receiver as defined in claim 10, wherein said radio receiver includes facing panels carrying station indicator dials and having slots adjacent said dials, pointers traveling in said slots, cables attached to said pointers and con nected to said drum, and idler pulleys around which the latter mentioned cable is guided.

12. A radio receiver as defined in claim 11, wherein one of said panels is secured to said casing and the other of said panels is secured to said receiving unit.

WILHELM W. BROCKWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,577,727 Karge Mar. 23, 1926 1,695,919 Gould Dec. 18, 1928 1,734,553 Bartlett Nov. 5, 1929 2,175,025 Hooven Oct. 3, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES Radio Craft, January 1936, page 395. Popular Science, March 1939, pages 218-220. 

